National Geographic Channel and GE partnered to develop BREAKTHROUGH, a new series produced by Imagine Entertainment and Asylum Entertainment premièring on November 8 on DStv Channel 181 at 20:00.
Life-saving, mind-boggling innovation is a part of everyday life, so we sometimes take it for granted. It happens in the blink of an eye — on battlefields and playgrounds, in supercolliders and the International Space Station, in smart homes and smart cars. These are modern-day revolutions in how we live. BREAKTHROUGH explores the courage, imagination, passion and self-sacrifice of the scientists bringing these innovations to life.
Each hour-long episode is directed by a Hollywood visionary, with Angela Bassett, Peter Berg, Paul Giamatti, Akiva Goldsman, Ron Howard and Brett Ratner as the first six directors.
This six part series will explore remarkable breakthroughs in brain science, longevity, water, energy, pandemics and cyborg technology. Howard directs the longevity episode, Giamatti investigates the latest in technology, Ratner explores the brain, Berg tackles pandemics, Bassett deals with water issues and Goldsman tackles energy.
“Modern science and technology are the keys to addressing the challenges the world is facing today,” said Courteney Monroe, CEO, National Geographic Channels. “By partnering with GE — as dedicated to science and innovation as we are — and by working with top-tier directors at the helm, BREAKTHROUGH will celebrate the curiosity, innovation and exploration of our world, and spotlight the individuals and institutions at the center of these groundbreaking achievements.”
The hour-long episodes in order of broadcast date are:
Fighting Pandemics (Directed by Peter Berg) 8/11/2015
More Than Human (Directed by Paul Giamatti) 15/11/2015
Decoding The Brain (Directed by Brett Ratner) 22/11/2015
The Age of Aging (Directed by Ron Howard) 29/11/2015
Energy From The Edge (Directed by Akiva Goldsman) 6/12/2015
Water Apocalypse (Directed by Angela Bassett) 13/12/2015
The three episodes coming up for 29/11, 6/12 and 13/12 include the below GE experts and the breakthrough work they are committed to every day. They are :
“The Age of Aging” featuring Fiona Ginty
High Value Diagnostics Biology Platform Leader, GE Global Research Center, Saratoga Springs, New York
Fiona Ginty is featured in an episode about longevity. She specialises in molecular pathology, a science used to analyse tumour tissue for cancer patients. Using GE’s MultiOmyx technology, scientists can determine the cell makeup and characteristics of these tumour tissues, as well as the likelihood of potential growth. This work showcases how medical technology has evolved over the past two centuries, and the behaviour of cells as they interact with emerging technology.
“Energy From The Edge” featuring Nate McClanahan
Engineering Test Technician, GE Aviation, West Union, Ohio
Nate McClanahan is featured in the episode about the future of energy that spotlights innovative alternative energy projects and the people behind them. Nate explains how GE’s jet engine technology has given way to the creation of gas turbine technology, which helps power the world. With scientists and engineers working around the globe, GE is on the cutting edge of developing more efficient energy solutions, including digital wind farms and solid oxide fuel cells.
“Water Apocalypse” featuring Jeff Peeters
Senior Product Manager, GE Water & Process Technologies, Toronto, Canada
In an episode about how scientists and governments are working to prevent widespread water shortages, GE’s ZeeWeed Membrane technology — which increases the availability of clean, usable water — is featured as part of the solution. The Butler Water Reclamation Facility in Peoria, Arizona (a GE customer), has the capacity to recycle over 37 million litres of water every day, transforming the area. The facility powers a 5-acre lake and a town park — and in the near future, it will support the growing town and the people who live there.
“GE has always been driven by restless invention,” said Beth Comstock, CMO at GE and president of GE Business Innovations. “New technologies are disrupting the world every day on personal, economic and social levels, and the efforts that go into fueling that — though often unseen — can be astounding. This project will lift the lid to reveal our civilization’s tremendous evolution and still-to-be-tapped potential.”
GE and National Geographic Channel are united in their commitment to inspire the most curious minds the world over with the new series BREAKTHROUGH.
